CLEVELAND, Ohio – Duke University incoming freshman Celine Boutier had her run at the 2012 U.S. Women’s Amateur come to an end on Thursday afternoon as she dropped a 1-up decision to Lydia Ko at the 6,512-yard, par 72 The Country Club in Cleveland, Ohio.

In a match that was back and forth through the entire 18 holes, neither golfer held more than a 1-up lead. A native of Montrouge, France, Boutier was 1-down through three holes but birdied hole No. 4 and parred No. 5 to take a 1-up lead. Ko responded with a birdie of her own to get the match back to all square.

The match stayed all square through 11 holes before Boutier totaled a birdie on the 146-yard, par three 12th hole to take a 1-up lead. Ko drained another birdie on No. 14 to pull the match back to all square. The match took a big turn on the 450-yard, par five 16th as Boutier sank a birdie, but Ko tallied an eagle to take a 1-up advantage with two holes left. Both golfers parred the next two holes to close the match.

Boutier shot 4-under-par, 68, on the day, but Ko was one shot better with a 67.
In Boutier’s first match of the day, she downed Karen Chung, 1-up. Boutier never trailed in the match but didn’t hold higher than a 2-up lead throughout the morning. She shot 74 over the 18 holes to notch the match play win.

Duke has registered two U.S. Women’s Amateur champions in the past as Amanda Blumenherst won in 2008 and Virada Nirapathpongporn in 2003.

In the first round of the LPGA Jamie Farr Classic, Duke senior Lindy Duncan carded a 77 and is tied for 136th overall. A product of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Duncan hit 6-of-14 fairways, eight greens and had 32 putts on the day. She was held without a birdie in the morning.